Highway 71 is busy - very busy.  Now another subdivision planned for the stretch of 71 between Bee Cave and the county line could add another 1000+ homes to that part of Western Travis County.  I drove to Marble Falls and back last week and saw that construction has already started on the infrastructure of the Sweetwater Lazy 9, a subdivision that will have 1700 new homes.  The new development, called RGK Ranch, will sit between Sweetwater and West Cypress Hills if it is approved.  West Cypress Hills has already been approved to have 1500 homes.

Traffic on Hwy 71 is already a problem.  Traffic is approaching 20,000 vehicles a day through Bee Cave.  Even as the road there is being expanded, there is very little expansion that can be done.  As the area west of Bee Cave develops more, traffic is estimated to climb to 50,000 vehicles a day within 10-25 years.  TxDOT really needs to get its act together and take a serious look at Hwy 71 to see what can be done.  Adding a continuous turn lane and a few traffic lights will help, but only slightly.

Other developments west of Bee Cave that have been announced and or approved include some that will have homes on 1-3 acre sites.  I realize that these homes will be much more expensive than what will probably go into RGK Ranch and I don't know how many more homes in upper price ranges can be absorbed.  However, that kind of development would be a much more appealing to the eye and to the traffic count.

If RGK Ranch goes in, and I think it will, the southern side of Highway 71 will look a lot like Steiner Ranch.  As a REALTOR, you might think I would be thrilled about the prospect of thousands of new homes along Hwy 71.   After all, I would have a chance to sell more of the new homes.  But folks, it isn't about the money.  I've lived out here for 20 years and love the open feel of the Hill Country.  What I would like to see is some balance.